MANASSAS, VA – January 15, 2015 – (HISPANICIZE WIRE) – The Amputee Coalition has released a Spanish translation of First Step: A Guide to Adapting to Limb Loss. The 2014 edition targets Hispanics, whose risk of developing diabetes and related complications is double that of non-Hispanic whites.

“Type 2 diabetes is an epidemic in our country, and as the incidence of the disease increases, so do the complications. We need to reach out to the Hispanic community and offer them help in living with the loss of a limb”

“This new resource is not only useful to Hispanics in the U.S., but to Spanish-speaking people throughout the world,” said Amputee Coalition President & CEO Sue Stout. The guide provides valuable information for all those coping with limb loss, seeking information and better options, or trying to make educated choices.

According to the 2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report as listed on the American Diabetes Association’s Web site, 12.8 percent of Hispanics in the U.S. have diabetes, as opposed to 7.6 percent of non-Hispanic whites. According to this same study, Hispanics are 2.9 times more likely to be hospitalized for diabetes-related amputation of a foot or a leg than non-Hispanic whites.

The Spanish version of the guide couldn’t be timelier, as Type 2 diabetes and its complications are on the rise in nearly all races in the U.S.

“Type 2 diabetes is an epidemic in our country, and as the incidence of the disease increases, so do the complications,” Stout added. “We need to reach out to the Hispanic community and offer them help in living with the loss of a limb.”

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the hospitalization rate for diabetes-related amputations among Hispanics increased from 63 admissions per 100,000 people in 2001 to nearly 80 admissions per 100,000 people in 2004.

The Amputee Coalition also has a website with resources in Spanish about a variety of related topics. It can be accessed at: amputee-coalition.org. The Delaware-based Hook PR Group, which has worked with the Coalition for more than 10 years, translated the publication. The bilingual content marketing consultancy, with a translations division, serves nonprofits and service professionals throughout the United States that need strategic content and Spanish translations for consumer education campaigns and special publications.

“Translating content that helps people cope with such crucial medical issues has to be done with cultural sensitivity and pinpoint accuracy,” explained Patricia V. Rivera, owner of Hook PR Group. “We’re honored to have been tasked with such an important project, and we hope Hispanic amputees turn to First Step: A Guide for Adapting to Limb Loss for relevant answers to problems they face every day.”

About the Amputee Coalition The Amputee Coalition, headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is “to reach out to and empower people affected by limb loss to achieve their full potential through education, support and advocacy, and to promote limb loss prevention.” For more information about limb loss, please call 888/267-5669 or visit the Amputee Coalition Web site at amputee-coalition.org. About Hook PR Group Hook PR Group delivers strategic content and high-quality translations in Spanish that help nonprofits and service professionals effectively engage Hispanic consumers. To learn more, visit hookpr.com.